Eight suspects in NCPB maize scandal cry foul

Eight people listed as top beneficiaries of the Ksh.1.9 billion maize scandal claim they only assisted farmers to deliver produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

They are among 21 suspects linked to the maize scandal.

Also Read: Gov’t reveals names of 21 maize scandal beneficiaries

“NCPB cleared us to deliver maize after farmers faced challenges while taking their produce to depots in Kitale, Eldoret and Kisumu,” they told journalists in Eldoret.

Simon Kipkosgey Changwony, a Nigeria-based farmer, said he was given a clearance letter from NCPB to deliver maize to the Kisumu depot following long queues at Eldoret.

Changwony refuted claims that he imported maize from neighboring countries.

Another farmer, Victoria Jebet, said she delivered maize to NCPB through her children, after helping farmers pay school fees and bank loans.

Jebet, who is based in Moiben, maintains that she is not part of the alleged cartels that have siphoned money from the government silos.

She intimated that she has been farming for many years and delivered 212,000 bags through the help of her daughter Celestine Jepchirchir.

Jebet and the other seven suspects are urging the government to conduct fresh investigations into the scandals because “they are being victimised”.